
Even though I had read someone else’s ideas about how to fake amnesia, I was not thinking straight enough when we got home from Taco Bell to even remember the plan. I just knew that I needed to have amnesia. Immediately. I took the $60 in cash I had in a tin on top of the refrigerator and made sure I had a well-stocked purse (including tooth brush—I wasn’t going to “forget” everything) and I fled. I took Jerry’s truck to the bus station. I parked it illegally (perhaps that was immature but I had had enough) and went inside and bought a ticket. I scanned the possible destinations. I wanted to find a place where I had never been. I wanted to go somewhere where I knew no one. I wanted to start over. My only requirement was that the place had to have a café that was hiring. I fantasized about being a waitress. I would call people “Hon” and refill coffee cups and the only thing I’d have to worry about would be if they wanted their eggs over easy or scrambled. Also, I had to pay cash for the ticket. I didn’t want to leave too much of a trace.
I found $17.82 in my wallet so together with the $60, I bought a one way ticket for $76. That’s how I ended up in Wenatchee, Washington.
It was 2:00 AM when I staggered off the bus. I was exhausted and needed a place to sleep and plan. I had tried to come up with a plan on the bus but I was too angry to get past all the ways my family had been making me crazy. Now I had a problem. To get a hotel room, I needed to use my credit card. To have amnesia, I couldn’t use my credit card, because presumably, I wouldn’t know who the person listed on the card was.
Clearly I hadn’t thought this through.
I decided I needed some sleep. Tonight I would still be me. I would use my credit card. If my family cared enough to try to track me down, I may be traceable. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. Tomorrow I would have amnesia.
The next morning I started feeling guilty and worrying about my family. They must be beside themselves, wondering where I was. Then I remembered everything, all the hassles they caused me. It was easier to forget them all. I couldn’t go back. In the hotel room, there was a small card advertising The Wild Huckleberry. It was, according to their ads, the place to go for brunch. It sounded perfect. I would see if they were hiring. I needed a new name. My best friend in high school had been named Kathy. I would become Kathleen. Kathleen…Jones. That was me. I was from…Ohio. As far as anyone knew (including me) that was the truth.
I had “forgotten” everything else.
What is Sue going to do in her "new life"? Check back tomorrow to find out!
I found $17.82 in my wallet so together with the $60, I bought a one way ticket for $76. That’s how I ended up in Wenatchee, Washington.
It was 2:00 AM when I staggered off the bus. I was exhausted and needed a place to sleep and plan. I had tried to come up with a plan on the bus but I was too angry to get past all the ways my family had been making me crazy. Now I had a problem. To get a hotel room, I needed to use my credit card. To have amnesia, I couldn’t use my credit card, because presumably, I wouldn’t know who the person listed on the card was.
Clearly I hadn’t thought this through.
I decided I needed some sleep. Tonight I would still be me. I would use my credit card. If my family cared enough to try to track me down, I may be traceable. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. Tomorrow I would have amnesia.
The next morning I started feeling guilty and worrying about my family. They must be beside themselves, wondering where I was. Then I remembered everything, all the hassles they caused me. It was easier to forget them all. I couldn’t go back. In the hotel room, there was a small card advertising The Wild Huckleberry. It was, according to their ads, the place to go for brunch. It sounded perfect. I would see if they were hiring. I needed a new name. My best friend in high school had been named Kathy. I would become Kathleen. Kathleen…Jones. That was me. I was from…Ohio. As far as anyone knew (including me) that was the truth.
I had “forgotten” everything else.
What is Sue going to do in her "new life"? Check back tomorrow to find out!